Tuesday, October 6, 2015

CaFFE and CHR welcome release of commission reports

October 6, 2015

The Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) and the Center for Human Rights and Research (CHR) today welcomed the decision to release the reports of the Udalagama and Paranagama Commissions on alleged human rights violations in Sri Lanka.

Various reports published on Sunday (04) indicated that three government-mandated reports regarding missing persons and human rights violations; the Udalagama Commission report, the Paranagama report on the second mandate and the report by Desmond De Silva’s advisory panel to the Missing Persons Commission are expected to be tabled in Parliament during the course of this week.

CaFFE and CHR, who have been campaigning for the release of these reports, in a statement welcomed this move and stated that it is a step in the right direction.

“It has also been reported that Paranagama committee appointed by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to probe complaints regarding missing persons in the Northern and Eastern Provinces from June 10, 1990 to May 19, 2009 named some army officers as alleged perpetrators,” it said.

Commenting on the Paranagama Commission last week in his speech at the UNHRC Human Rights Commissioner Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein said there were “widespread concerns raised about its credibility and effectiveness. We believe this Commission should be disbanded and its pending cases transferred to a credible and independent institution established in consultation with families of the disappeared.”

However Maxwell Paranagama has vouched for the credibility of the investigations carried out his Commission and dismissed calls to disband it to make way for a more credible investigative mechanism.

CaFFE and CHR said they have been covering various attempts by government and non-governmental actors to obtain information from those affected by the conflict.

“We have seen thousands of people complaining to the ICRC, the LLRC, the Civil Society Actors, the Paranagama Commission and an extended Udalagama Commission.”

“Most of the family members of those who have disappeared have given evidence before all the above mentioned commissions. We have seen them repeat the same story and each time they relive their deepest moments of sorrow and are paralyzed for days and as an organization who has seen this ground reality, we see no reason to subject the same individuals to go through the same process through another ‘credible and independent institution’,” they said.

CaFFE and CHR said they believe that these documents must be public, so the public can have a true judgment on their credibility.

“That is why last week CaFFE and CHR made an open request from President Sirisena to publicize the Undulagama and Paranagama Commission reports and interim reports of these committees as the best way to open a dialogue on alleged human rights violations.”

“Moreover, these documents can be made base documents which can be used to investigate alleged human rights allegations as the evidence given by victims and associates of victims of assassinations, abduction and torture,” the statement said.

There might be criticisms on the commission, how they conducted themselves and recommendations. However concrete facts of over 60 incidents, including high profile cases like the assassination of Lakshman Kadiragamar, killing of ACF workers in Muttur, the murder of five students in Trincomalee and the disappearance of Father Jim Brown, have been considered by these commissions, it said.

CaFFE and CHR believe that these reports are more than adequate to have an initial debate on alleged human rights violations in Sri Lanka, the needs of the people and whether a new institution needs to be formed to consult the families of the disappeared.

“It would be the right step towards a credible local investigation.”

Jiffy Company which destructed Deduru Oya start to intimidate the environmentalists – Environmentalist Ravindra Kariyawasam

Oct 06, 2015

Coordinator of the Environment and Nature Education Centre Ravindra Kariyawasam said the Jiffy Company which is directly involved for the destruction of the Deduru Oya and harming its surrounding ecological system, is threatening the environmentalists and hindering their works. The latter told this to raise awareness to the journalists during a media communiqué held yesterday(05).

Kariyawasam speaking during the media communiqué said

I, Wekandawala Rahula Himi, Duminda Dissanayake went on a monitoring mission to see the destruction caused to the Deduru Oya and its surrounding area on Saturday the 3rd. While monitoring nearly 30 people of the Jiffy Company came and hindered our inspection. The group intimidated us and tried to take our cameras and equipments and abused us in foul languages.
When we informed the police the Kobeigane police came to site and took us to the police and took statements. Meantime the police checked our documents and cameras without any reason but did not take any actions against the workers of the Jiffy Company which hindered our work. The police took action against the innocent party who got affected.

It is very clear that the police support multinational companies which destruct the environment. Not only have the police all state institutions in that area supports the Jiffy Company. The most perplexing is that the multinational companies which destruct the environment have now started to threaten and use foul languages against the monks and the environmentalists. The state institutions also stand with such companies.

We have written a letter to the President who is the current environment minister to take action against the intimidation exercised against environmentalists.

Lawyer Nuwan Bopage insisted
These environmentalists have not gone inside the Jiffy factory and taken photographs. They went on a monitoring mission around the Deduru Oya. The police don’t have any legal rights to take them under police custody and to obtain statements. If they are going to check them they have to obtain a prior court order. Meantime the police have taken actions against the complaint party. The police have not taken action to note down the complaint. It is clear the police and the legal institutions work in favour of the company.

Meantime multinational companies have started to acquire or kill whoever who hinder their works.

Can We Keep Our “Hopes Alive” Under Yahapālanaya?

By Gamini Jayaweera –October 6, 2015

Gamini Jayaweera

The people of Sri Lanka have placed their trust and pinned their hopes when they voted in millions in favour of the new government, that President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will fulfil their aspirations by laying a strong foundation to rebuild a democratic, compassionate, peaceful, law abiding, and sovereign society by the advancement of social, religious, cultural, economic, and technological developments in the country. After the appointment of the new cabinet by the President and the Prime Minister, the time is right for us who have risked their lives and livelihoods by publically supporting Mr. Maithripala Sirisena during the presidential election, to examine whether the “Yahapalanaya” government is on the right path to keep our “Hopes Alive”.

Setting Up a “Jumbo” Cabinet

It is true to say that the President and the Prime Minister have inflicted a serious blow to keep our “Hopes Alive” by appointing a Cabinet consist of 44 members including President and the Prime Minister. In addition there are13 State Ministers and 23 Deputy Ministers who are not members of the cabinet. During the pre-election period the leaders of the “Yahapalanaya” quite rightly criticised the size of the cabinet in the previous regime and promised us that they would not follow the same path of appointing a “Jumbo Cabinet” because it will cost the country a vast amount of money to maintain such a cabinet. The impression given to the nation was that the cabinet would be a maximum of thirty (30). Most importantly, we do not need such a large cabinet as Sri Lanka is a small country compared to large countries where the no. of cabinet ministerial posts is between 20 and 25. Assuming that the “Yahapalanaya” has appointed a “Jumbo” cabinet in the short-term to fulfil some election promises where the government needs two thirds majority in the parliament, can we keep our “Hopes Alive” that the President and the Prime Minister will take action to reduce the “Jumbo” cabinet to an acceptable level at the appropriate time?

Appointment of Corrupt Politicians

(Lanka-e-News -06.Oct.2015, 11.30AM) In any country where an army exists discipline in the army is paramount. If there is no discipline , an army cannot triumph and it cannot carry on. During a time when the army is unable to carry on, the state also as a necessary corollary cannot carry on. Hence what is crucial is discipline.It is only when the superior officers who are appointed to maintain discipline act duly that the subordinate officers and soldiers will respect discipline.This is not something new or a novel concept. It is a theory of the army experts who have acknowledged this fact based on many centuries’ experience .

Following the appointment of new army commander Lieutenant General Krishantha Silva replacing the retired army commander General Daya Ratnayake ,a number of strange and bizarre ancient Kekile court decisions have been taken in regard to a discipline respecting army.

One such outrageous decision of Krishantha Silva is : Brigadier R.P Rajapathirane who was dismissed from the post of army legal Director by even the corrupt Daya Ratnayake ,and this brigadier who is facing several charges of sexual abuse committed on lady legal officers of the army under him , being promoted to a top position of the army legal division as lawyer General and judge.

On 2015-05-09 when a lady officer had gone on some official duty to the office of Brigadier Rajapathirane who was then functioning as Director legal , Rajapathirane had tried to outrage her modesty , whereupon she had furiously scolded , assaulted him , and had managed to escape.

The brigadier who was smarting under her assault and humiliation had been taking revenge on her by unrelentingly harassing and insulting the officer thereafter.When the victim tried to make a complaint to the military police , the military police commanding officer without recording her complaint , had sneaked on this to Rajapathirane and turned the table on the victim , making her the accused.

From then on ,the lady officer was persecuted at every turn .On 2014-06-10 , at a meeting attended by all legal officers , the Brigadier had openly insulted and scolded her in filth before all citing baseless grounds . At that moment the brigadier having forgotten his bearings and in a fit of rage said ,’if Iam a bastard, the commander is a double bastard’ thereby vilifying the army commander then.

A number of legal officers (females) of the army have questioned the senior legal officer , Colonel Jayasinghe who was holding the legal post in the rank of Colonel then , and who is presently the Director legal ,what is the decision that is going to be taken pertiaining to the relentless humiliation and harassment that were inflicted on the particular victim ;for which question , the Director legal has not given an answer .Instead he had told the victim that he can get her a transfer wherever she desires, and not to take legal action .

The lady legal officer (victim) who was being continuously persecuted and humiliated because she did not yield to the lascivious advances of sex starved Brigadier Rajapathirane , could not bear the suffering any longer . She had then complained to ex army commander Daya Ratnayake when he returned to SL from abroad .

Subsequently when it was probed , it was discovered that this brigadier Rajapathirane had been the cause of grief to several other lady legal officers too, subjecting them to sexual harrassment .

After threatening to transfer a lady legal officer, Captain Nanayakkara to Kilinochchi , Rajapathirane had later held back the transfer after subjecting her to sexual abuse.Similarly Captain Vaijayanthi a lady officer who was attached to the Kotalawala defense academy who came to attend a lecture delivered by former army commander on 2014-07-14 at the army headquarters fell victim to Rajapathirane’s sexual abuse.

At all events , these officers who fell victims are fully aware that they will not be able to get relief from this sadistic persecution. Knowing well that if they complain , they will be subjected to further harassment , and never get any relief are preferring to suffer in silence rather than complaining .They are eating their hearts out in silent misery .

In any case , the former army commander Daya Ratnayake following the complaint made by the victim , at last belatedly appointed a court to conduct a preliminary investigation , and after dismissing brigadier Rajapathirane from the Director legal post ,had transferred him to the Kotalawala defense academy at that time.

However now , no sooner Krishantha Silva became the army commander than he took the first disastrous step of appointing Rajapathirane a bosom pal and of his same ilk belonging to his same regiment as the attorney at law General and judge - the highest legal position in the army , paying no heed to the on going preliminary investigation in the court against Rajapathirane.

This appointment is absolutely in violation of the rules, regulations and traditions of the army. Rajapathirane then exploiting his superior position threatened the legal officers (male and female) who were to give evidence , and thereby somehow got the evidence turned in his favor in the preliminary investigation in the court.

A most senior legal officer at that time Lieutenant Colonel Wijedasa of the legal division gave evidence undeterred and undaunted by Rajapathirane’s threats and intimidation, and exposed the latter’s misdeeds including sexual molestations, rapes and malpractices via written complaints to the president , defense ministry and the army commander at that time. In spite of it , it was Wijedasa who was victimized . He was sent on premature retirement before he reached 55 years , by the notorious Brigadier and the army commander.

This mafia ring operation did not stop at that , two more lady officers who boldly and bravely gave evidence before court and expressed the truth are also facing unending persecution and humiliation -they are Lieutenant Colonel Ferdinands and major Mendis. The groundwork is being prepared to rid these two brave officers from the army.

When senior legal officer of the army, Brigadier Weerasinghe who was in service (now retired) during the period the lady legal officer was a victim of sexual harassment , was giving evidence in the court inquiring into it, Rajapathirane went berserk , and tried to assault Weerasinghe while abusing him in foul language.

Major general Udawatte , the president of the court of preliminary inquiry had now handed over the report after the conclusion of recording of evidence , to the army commander . What is most irksome and worrisome about this is, this report has been given by the present army commander Krishantha to the very culprit and accused brigadier Rajapathrane , the current attorney at law General and judge of the army .

When the army is conducting investigations this deplorably, disgracefully and most reprehensibly when the lady officers who are victims are seeking redress and who had been subject to the worst degrading sexual harassment , what a big joke and mockery will it be if the very army is to conduct investigations into the rape and murder of victims like Isapriya during the final phase of the war .

In the circumstances , it is a huge question mark , what criterion the president who is the commander in chief of the forces followed when appointing the army commander and the Air Force commander ?

By 'Soldadu Unnehe' (a soldier)
Translated by Jeff

---------------------------
by (2015-10-06 06:11:17)

FCID investigates Basil’s Gampaha office

Oct 06, 2015

The Financial Crime Investigation Department (FCID) has now started to investigate Basil Rajapaksa’s office situated in Gampaha by the name of “Rajapaksa Foundation”

The FCID would investigate about how the land for the office bought and how the construction was done. Reports reaching us confirm a sum of Rs. 200 million was spent for the construction of the building without any accounts.

When questioned as how the finances were raised to construct the office a member of the Rajapaksa Foundation Upul Dissanayake said late W. Karunanajeewa the chairman of the people’s Bank Leasing Group gave the money.

Karunajeewa passed away on January 29th 2013.

Video: IGP told to pay Rs.25,000 each to two JVP activists

2015-10-06

The Supreme Court said today the ignorance of the law was not an excuse and ordered the IGP to pay a compensation of Rs.25,000 to each of the two JVP activists arrested by the Police for pasting posters which read, "Stop Media Oppression and Restore Democracy".

Justice Priyasath Dep with Justices Sisira J. De Abrew and Anil Gooneratne delivered the judgment in a fundamental rights petition filed by JVP activists Karunanayake Joseph Benedict Silva and Chandrasena Hettiarachchi. They were arrested by the Dematagoda police on January 12, 2009 while they were pasting posters in Dematagoda. - See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/90193/video-igp-told-to-pay-rs-25-000-each-to-two-jvp-activists#sthash.uo4oteY0.dpuf

Embrace tuition to empower teachers?

Schools and teachers function in an extremely competitive environment where every parent aspires for the best for their children and the best is measured by success at examinations

Wednesday, 7 October 2015

Fifth of October was World Teacher Education Day as declared by the UN. The theme for 2015 is empowering teachers. In its joint communique with the ILO, UNESCO expresses its deep concern about the persisting challenges brought about by (1) teacher shortages and (2) the low status of teachers at all levels of education.
Sri Lanka does not have a shortage of teachers. During the past decade our student to teacher ratios has been at a respectable at 18:1. However, lack of respect for teachers is a major issue in Sri Lanka. In this article I argue that dominance of skilled tuition masters outside of the school is a major reason for lowered status of teachers in Sri Lankan society today.

Embrace tuition to empower teachers.odt by Thavam Ratna

Ranil Toughens Stand After Mangala’s Foreign Service Stooges Defy Him

October 6, 2015

A head-on confrontation between Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Foreign Minister, Mangala Samaraweera has become inevitable after officials in the Foreign Ministry and Foreign Service have continue to defy the PM.

Ranil and Mangala

After tensions between the two began to mount, Wickremesinghe has said he will raise all the pertinent issues with Samaraweera when he returns to Colombo. He is now on a tour of Japan where he has received an overwhelming welcome and the honour of addressing Diet, their parliament.

The sharp difference first came to the fore before the Prime Minister’s visit to India. He had sought a detailed brief from officials in the Foreign Ministry. What he received shocked him. A senior official in the Prime Minister’s Secretariat told Colombo Telegraph even a GCE (OL) student could have written a better report than the puerile one the PM received. The Prime Minister announced publicly that in future he will not seek any report from any official in the Foreign Ministry nor take anyone from there on his foreign visits.

The Indian visit took place without any Foreign Ministry representative. Even the current Japan visit saw no one from this Ministry taking part. After these two events, things have been on the increase.

This official said Prime Minister Wickremesinghe has also been upset over the conduct of Sri Lanka Ambassador in Geneva Ravinatha Aryasinha. This had come after reports were received alleging that he had been briefing via secret telephone calls at least two persons, a former diplomat and a Minister, regularly matters relating to the UN Human Rights Council. Such inputs had been included in opposition statements. Aryasinha was a strong loyalist of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Foreign Minister, G.L. Peiris and a close friend of Dayan Jayatilleka, former Ambassador to Geneva. In the recent months he has cultivated Foreign Minister Samaraweera and had claimed he could get anything done by him.
Read More

More information surfaces regarding Namal's extortion head, Kappam Champika ; ex Customs Director General aided and abetted

(Lanka-e-News -06.Oct.2015, 11.30PM) Following the publication of a report by Lanka e news on 1 st October regarding Champika Karunaratne alias ‘Kappam Champika’ , the leader of the extortion team of Namal Rajapakse ,copious information about him is now flowing in.

According to this information, a young legal assistant of Namal by the name of Ms. Sujani Bogallagama who was involved in Namal’s operations of illicit deals and extortion collections was enlisted by Champika in his extortion activities. She was working in the company NR Associates which belonged to Namal , and subsequently she had been a lover of Champika. It is Bogallagama who had carried out Namal’s Kris deals.

Namal Rajapakse had also found jobs in 5 government Institutions for Champika to facilitate their secret deals. Champika had therefore collected five salaries. Although more than one salary payment to an individual by the State sector is illegal , because the State sector officials were in fear of Namal they have okayed these illegal payments.

Champika had been a President’s coordinating secretary at the Port . His sole and whole duty was releasing the smuggled heroin and ethanol containers into the country without any inspection . Towards this the Customs had been used , and former Customs Director General Jagath Premalal Wijeweera had provided all the assistance in these rackets, according to reports.

Former Customs Director General helped Kappam Champika ?

The ex Customs Director General Premalal Wijeweera had told his subordinates ‘ don’t inspect the containers and learn to move with the tide after studying the direction along which the country is moving’ in regard to the container loads of heroin and ethanol that were brought into the country by Namal Rajapakse via Kappam Champika.

Lanka e news earlier described Jagath Premalal Wijeweera as not a bad individual. The present government has appointed Wijeweera as secretary to the ministry of law and order . Wijeweera told Lanka e news that he does not know Kappam Champika .

The kappam from the dealers who got down the heroin and ethanol containers were collected on behalf of Namal by Champika , and his lover Bogallagama had assisted them.

Namal has also through his assistant Champika collected monies from government Institutions.On one occasion on a single day Rs. 4 million and Rs. 5 million were collected from Bank of Ceylon and Peoples bank respectively. These monies were collected as funds for the ‘Thaaurinyata heta’ organization activities , but these collections were continued later as kappam. (The way kappam collections from Bank of Ceylon and Peoples bank were made is depicted in the photographs herein).

Kappam Champika who had only Rs. 1500.00 cash in 2005 , (Lanka e news reported previously) , now lives in a house worth many millions at Boralesgamuwa.(vide photograph). In front of this house is a board that mentions ‘no parking of vehicles on the orders of the SSP ’ of that division. Lanka e news is now inquiring into who is the SSP who so brazenly gave support to the notorious Kappam Champika.

While this report was being prepared another piece of information was received by us . That is , prior to 8 th January 2015 , during the final days , Namal had dispatched 25 kilos of gold through Champika to Seychelles Island. Kappam Champika had threatened to shoot and kill a Customs officer in Seychelles when he tried to inspect the cargo.

The information gathered by Lanka e news following the request made by us to the people to provide us with all the information they have of Champika Karunaratne alias Kappam Champika , are being treated most confidentially , while also safeguarding those who provided the information. All the information had been given over to the relevant officers . In the event there is any more information pertaining to their extortion operations and activities , Lanka e news hereby most earnestly requests the informants to provide the details to the CID or the FCID .

-By a special reporter of Lanka e news inside information division-

Related News : How did Namal who had only MP’s salary income purchase Companies paying in billions..? Namal's extortion head, Kappam Champika exposed..! Rs.20 million extorted from Deshamanya Kotalawala..!!

---------------------------
by (2015-10-06 21:39:16)

A complaint to the Bribery & Corruption against the officers in the Consumer Affairs Authority

- Oct 06, 2015

A complaint has been lodged in the Bribery and Corruption Investigation Commission against the officers of the Consumer Affairs Authority for acquiring bribe. The complaint has been lodged by the chairman of the National Campaign to Protect the Consumer Rights and the chairman of the National Campaign for “Daruwanta hetak” Asela Sampath.

The complaint has been lodged against the former director general of the consumer affairs authority J.M.A. Douglas, finance director W.M. Priyantha, human resource director K.R.A Sampath Angulugaha, and deputy director (preventive) W.M.A.K. Bandara, Abdul Azeez Gaffoor, W.M.P. Wijesinghe citing as respondents.

The complaint was lodged against these people above for travelling overseas through an influence of a sponsor who has been accused for importing low quality products and while a case against him is in process. The complaint party considers this as a bribe and demanded the Bribery and Corruption to start an investigation.

The complaint has cited that it is suspicious that six people in the consumer affairs authority travel overseas at the same time and have they taken any prior permission before travelling overseas and if there is a permission granted it is uncertain under what basis the permission was given. Therefore the national campaign to protect the consumer rights and the Campaign for “Daruwanta Hetak” urge the Bribery and Corruption to conduct an investigation regarding this.

Janaka Bandara arrested

2015-10-06

UPFA parliamentarian Janaka Bandara Tennakoon was today arrested by the CID in connection with a killing that had taken place in 1999.

Police Spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekara said the former minister was arrested while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo.

“The CID is conducting investigations into the shooting incident in which a man was killed and another injured at Dambulgamuwa in Matale in December 14, 1999. The CID had asked Mr. Tennakoon to report to its office on Monday in connection with the investigations. However, he had admitted himself to a hospital instead of reporting to the CID,” ASP Gunasekara said.

He said Mr. Tennakoon had been admitted to the hospital on Monday and was undergoing treatment under police protection after his arrest.

The ASP said Mr. Bandara would be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate within the next few days.

Meanwhile, his son parliamentarian Pramitha Bandara denied the allegations levelled against his father.

“We are shocked with this turn of events. We are ready to face any political revenge with the support of people of Dambulla,” he said. - See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/90191/janaka-bandara-arrested#sthash.j1l8NnUU.dpuf

Yureni Apologized, Sirisena Did Not

October 6, 2015

Whereas young TV host Yureni Noshika had the guts to apologize to those who may have been offended by her choice of attire, President Maithripala Sirisena is yet to apologize to the public for encouraging his children to abuse privileges, critics point out.

Yureni

Sirisena has so far failed to make a statement regarding his daughter Chathurika using her father’s position to drag state officials on a personal trip. Neither has he explained the presence of his son Daham‘s presence in the Sri Lankan delegation to the sessions of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. He has not apologized to the public for these excesses that are antithetical to his rhetoric on putting an end to nepotism.

Yureni caught a lot of flak from the social media ‘culture police’ for what was neither an illegal nor indecent act. Nevertheless, she called it a ‘mistake’. She had the courage and the humility to make a public statement.

The actions of the presidential progeny in contrast are illegal as well as distasteful considering Sirisena’s solemn pledges not to go the ‘Rajapaksa Way’.

Two days ago Leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Colombo Telegraph that if President Maithripala Sirisena is still serious about pledges made to the people on January 8th on good governance, rule of law, doing away with nepotism and favoritism, he has to make a clear statement regarding his son Daham‘s presence with the Sri Lankan delegation at the sessions of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Specifically, he said that the President has to explain why he took his son to New York and in what capacity. Dissanayake referring to the fact that Daham had stated that he was representing his mother at the UNGA and that he was a ‘youth representative’, said that in the event that President Sirisena cannot defend these statements, then both father and son as well as the Foreign Ministry have to tender an unqualified apology to the people of Sri Lanka.

TUESDAY, 06 OCTOBER 2015

Rs. 70,600,000 has been spent to buy a BMW car and 12 BMW motorbikes for Presidential Security Division (PSD). The money to buy the car and motorcycles have been obtained on 19th May from a supplementary estimate in addition to allocations to the President from the budget.

It is interesting to note that the current President had to buy more vehicles in a situation where former President had bought a massive number of vehicles spending Rs. 3870 million and most of the vehicles were available for the current President.

When President Chandrika Kumaratunga retired from the post in 2005 the value of the vehicle collection for teh President was Rs. 81,000,000. President Mahinda Rajapaksa increased the collection by 48 times to Rs.3870 million wihin 7 years of his tenure.

President Maithripala Sirisena, who vehemently criticized the waste of money during Rajapaksa regime, spending such a large amount of money at the beginning of his tenure has surprised voters who used their votes agaisnt waste and extravagant living of Rajapaksas.

Dhammika, sent on compulsory leave by SLC, to be appointed by Yaha Paalanaya as port chief!

- Oct 06, 2015

The media reported recently that port and shipping minister Arjuna Ranatunga’s brother Dhammika was to be appointed chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

The present day ‘generation of swans’ who voted for ‘Yaha Paalanaya’ and the Sri Lankan people who forget their past in a haste fail to remember that Dhammika is a person who had been sent on compulsory leave for having committed irregularities as the CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket.

On 15 November 2000 he was sacked and thereafter he avoided investigations against him and secretly went to the US, where he had been living for more than 15 years.

Thilanga Sumathipala, president of SLC at the time, removed Dhammika, and when he was arrested by Chandrika government to exact revenge, Dhammika especially came to Sri Lanka to give evidence against him, and went back to the US on the same day after giving enough evidence to send Thilanga inside.

The enmity between Dhammika and Thilanga was over a television rights contract for matches of the Sri Lanka team.

India’s Sony had the television rights of the Sri Lanka team at the time and their main competitor was World Sports Nimbus. Thilanga supported Nimbus, while Dhammika supported Sony. The Ranatungas alone got hold of the commission, which led to the rivalry with Thilanga, who used his powers to expel Dhammika.

According to latest reports, Dhammika returned from the US on January 08 after the election of the ‘Yaha Paalana’ government to take up permanent residence.

People will soon get to know the real face of ‘Yaha Paalanaya’ when Dhammika is brought back after all his swindling of millions from SLC and being sent on compulsory leave.

- Thirdman of Lords cricket ground

The following links are for some of the media articles regarding Dhammika and Thilanga at the time:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/92043.html

http://www.bbc.com/sinhala/news/story/2008/12/081223_arjuna_cricket.shtml

http://www.thesundayleader.lk/20040201/spotlight-1.htm

Shot dead in a school uniform

Mourners carry the body of 13-year-old Abdulrahman Shadi Obeidallah during his funeral in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on 6 October.
Muhesen AmrenAPA images

Budour Youssef Hassan The Electronic Intifada Bethlehem 6 October 2015

It is not unusual to see youth from the Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem fight with the Israeli forces of occupation. But the clashes which followed Israel’s slaying of 13-year-old Abdulrahman Shadi Obeidallah — or Abdo, as he was affectionately known — were among the fiercest that residents have seen in recent years.

Shot Dead in a School Uniform by Thavam Ratna